ROAD RANGER OPERATIONS

Transcription

1 11/6/09: Pen & Ink to remove an unnecessary step in Section 2.1(D). Approved: Effective: May 21, 2009 Office: Traffic Engineering and Operations Topic No.: b ROAD RANGER OPERATIONS PURPOSE: To establish a uniform and consistent statewide Road Ranger program that supports Florida s Open Roads Policy. This program provides incident management response services and limited, no-cost highway assistance to motorists to improve highway safety for emergency responders and the motoring public. AUTHORITY: Sections 20.23(3)(a) and (3), Florida Statutes (F.S.) SCOPE: The principal users for this document will be the FDOT (Department) Road Ranger Program managers and others involved in the Road Ranger Program. This document will apply to all future Road Ranger contracts, and to the extent consistent with current terms, all outstanding Road Ranger contracts. REFERENCE: Topic No , Driver s Record Requirements Topic No , Smoking Policy Topic No , Drug-Free Workplace and Testing Policy Topic No Department Ethics Policy Form No , Florida DOT Road Ranger Operator Daily Report Section Florida Statutes (F.S.) Joint Task Force for Law Enforcement Radio System Security Procedure - Florida s Open Roads Policy Appendix B

2 Page 2 of 15 DEFINITIONS Approved Container: A metal or plastic container with a self closing lid, pressure relief valve, a spout and spark arrestor. These containers shall meet Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requirements. Booster Outlets/Hot Boxes: Outlets on exterior of a vehicle compatible with 12-volt booster cables used to jump other vehicles. Contractor: The individual company contracted with the Department to deliver roadside emergency assistance/services for contracts issued to implement the Road Ranger Program. Expendables: Items given at no cost to motorists or emergency responders including, but not limited to, supplies, drinking water, flares, etc. Road Ranger: Individual or unit that patrols specifically defined locations on Florida s Strategic Intermodal System to assist motorist(s) who are in need of assistance/services. Service Patrol: A roving patrol used by many states to provide incident management assistance, known in Florida as the Road Rangers. SLERS: State Law Enforcement Radio System 1. ROAD RANGER VEHICLE REQUIREMENTS The Districts may choose to utilize in-house or contract employees to provide operational services for the Road Ranger Program. This section provides minimum standards for vehicles, equipment, tools, and expendables to be used for the Road Ranger Program. 1.1 VEHICLE REQUIREMENTS A. The following requirements are the minimum standards for the Road Ranger Vehicle: 1. 3/4-ton, full-size pickup truck 2. Extended cab with four doors 3. Long bed capable of transporting all specified equipment properly secured 4. Equipped with functioning seat belts for all possible passengers 5. Equipped with an Automated Vehicle Location (AVL) system which provides at a minimum the following information: a. Latitude and longitude b. Vehicle number

3 Page 3 of 15 c. Speed d. Direction B. Each Road Ranger Vehicle shall be white in color with Department approved markings applied and shall have the following identification markings on both sides of the vehicle: 1. FDOT logo: Eleven inches (11 ) in diameter 2. SunGuide logo: Eight and one-half inches (8.5 ) by nine and one-half inches (9.5 ) 3. ROAD RANGERS painted or affixed in six-inch (6 ) black letters below the FDOT logo 4. FREE SERVICE painted or affixed in two-inch (2 ) black letters below the FDOT logo 5. Dial *FHP painted or affixed in two-inch (2 ) white letters on a blue background 6. Pickup trucks shall also paint or affix in two-inch (2 ) black letters FREE SERVICE on the rear bumper or tailgate of the vehicle 7. Each Road Ranger Vehicle shall display a three-digit number placed on or near the driver s and passenger s doors, the rear of the vehicle and the front of the vehicle that will individually identify each service patrol vehicle. The numbering sequence shall be as follows: a. DXX 1. D = district number 2. XX = sequential vehicle numbering beginning with 01 The Department shall approve the design and placement of all identification markings. All markings shall be maintained in a clean and readable condition. No reference to the Contractor s company name or logo shall be placed on the Road Ranger Vehicle. Any variations to the Road Ranger Vehicle (i.e., vehicle size or type) must be approved by the State Traffic Operations Engineer. Variance requests and justifications must be provided in writing. Exception: Road Ranger contractors were permitted in 2008 by contract addendum to seek private sponsorships for the Road Rangers. In Districts where sponsorship agreements have been signed, contract addendum requirements shall be followed for all aspects of the program as written in the contract addendum. 1.2 EQUIPMENT, TOOLS, and EXPENDABLES REQUIREMENTS Each vehicle shall have the following equipment, tools, and expendables at the start of each shift. Should any of the equipment, tools, and/or expendables malfunction or become

4 Page 4 of 15 depleted during the shift, the Road Ranger operator shall replenish or replace these items to the required quantities as early as possible throughout the shift Equipment A. Two towing straps rated at three thousand (3,000) pounds minimum B. Rubber-faced push bumper C. Rear work lights and/or a 360 degree rotating spotlight D. Power outlets ( hot boxes, booster outlets or equivalent), front and rear-mounted, compatible with 12-volt booster cables E. Two (2) heavy-duty batteries, each with the minimum of 750 cold cranking amps (CCA) F. Functioning cab lighting G. A roof-mounted, light bar, front to rear controllable, utilizing white and/or amber colors. The use of red or blue flashing lights is prohibited H. Department-approved arrow board or truck mounted dynamic message sign. This unit shall be mounted atop the cab above the roof-mounted light bar and be free to pivot into place as needed I. Universal ball mount with 1⅞-inch, 2-inch ball and 2 5/16 inch balls J. One (1) Five (5) gallon trash can or heavy duty trash bags K. Two (2) multi-purpose funnels with flexible spouts L. Two (2) wood blocks each measuring 4-inches by 6-inches by 12-inches M. Fifteen (15) Department approved 36-inch traffic cones, with reflective markings N. One hydraulic floor jack, capable of lifting passenger vehicles O. Air compressor capable of inflating tires of vehicles and operating an impact wrench P. Heavy duty flashlight/traffic wand with spare batteries Q. One set of booster cables consisting of 3-gauge copper wire with heavy-duty clamps and one end adapted to the Road Ranger Vehicle s power outlets, minimum 25 feet in length R. Cell phone and Department approved radios Tools A. Shovels (1 each) 1. Square-end 2. Round-end B. One (1) 24-inch street broom C. Lug wrenches to fit all vehicles (metric and standard) D. Pry bar, minimum 36 inches in length E. Air operated impact wrench with sockets to fit all vehicles (metric and standard) F. Each Road Ranger Vehicle shall have a toolbox containing the following tools: 1. Screw Drivers Standard 1/8, 3/16, 1/4 and 5/16 inch Phillips head #1 and #2 Star driver (Torx bit) 1 set

5 2. Pliers (1 pair each) Needle nose Adjustable rib joint, 2-inch minimum capacity Wire cutter 3. Adjustable wrenches (1 each) 8 inch 12 inch 4. Five-pound hammer 5. Rubber mallet 6. Electrical tape (20 yards) 7. Duct tape (20 yards) 8. Tire pressure gauge 9. Mechanic s wire (25-foot roll) 10. Bolt cutters 24 inch or larger 11. Complete set of open end and box wrenches (metric and standard) Expendables b Page 5 of 15 A. Five (5) gallons of diesel fuel in labeled and approved container B. Five (5) gallons of unleaded gasoline in labeled and approved container C. First aid kit (First Responder Kit, fully stocked, including gloves) D. Two (2) fire extinguishers, 5-pound dry chemical ABC units meeting all safety requirements. If seal is broken, unit shall be tested, resealed and certified E. Five (5) gallons of radiator water in labeled container(s) F. Twenty four (24) highway wet flares, 30-minute burn G. Ten (10) gallons of absorbent material for liquid spills H. Twelve (12) bottles of drinking water in individually sealed bottles, minimum 16 ounces I. Fifty (50) Department approved comment cards, provided by the vendor. J. Twenty-Five (25) Move it Law Cards, provided by the district, for distribution to crash victims who have questions regarding the Move It Law 2. ROAD RANGER OPERATOR REQUIREMENTS Road Ranger operators are in direct contact with the motoring public daily and therefore are required to perform their duties at a high standard. The Road Ranger operator should have a minimum of two (2) years experience in mechanics. The following requirements are to ensure a high level of service to the motoring public. 2.1 UPON HIRING EACH OPERATOR SHALL BE: A. Hold and maintain a valid Florida Drivers License B. A minimum of eighteen (18) years of age

6 Page 6 of 15 C. Have a safe driving record, in accordance with Department Procedure No , Driver s Record Requirements. This will be verified every six (6) months thereafter D. Have a criminal history record check performed by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement that meets the standards for use of the State Law Enforcement Radio System (SLERS) 800 MHz. The criminal record checks shall go back as far as the operator s date of birth (disqualifying criteria provided in Appendix A). Subsequent checks will be performed annually E. Drug free in accordance with Section , F.S., prior to beginning operations. Additional testing will be in concurrence with Department Topic No , Drug-Free Workplace and Testing Policy, and at a minimum of every six (6) months 2.2 The Road Ranger operators shall exercise good sound judgment in carrying out their duties and conduct themselves in such a manner that will reflect favorably upon the Department. Operators shall: A. Wear clean uniforms at the start of each shift. White shirts with collars and dark blue pants (long or short) B. Be well groomed C. Wear clearly visible name tag, with the operator s first name affixed to uniform shirt. The Department will determine all additional emblems, patches and logos D. Be courteous at all times E. Display a Road Ranger Operator picture ID that has been approved by the Department F. Wear a FDOT-approved ANSI/ISEA or ANSI/ISEA high visibility safety vest and/or rain suit at all times while outside the Road Ranger Vehicle G. Be fluent in English H. Offer Road Ranger comment cards to motorists who receive assistance 2.3 ROAD RANGER OPERATORS SHALL FOLLOW THE SAFETY RULES AND GENERAL REGULATIONS GIVEN BELOW: A. Conform to the latest Department Conduct Standards Rules and the Ethical Conduct Rules B. Inspect assigned vehicles at the beginning of each shift, and take action as necessary to ensure that they are in compliance with all specifications and requirements of this procedure C. Keep all communications radios and monitors on and the volume up. D. Remain on their assigned Patrol Sector and depart from the Patrol Sector only as directed by Law Enforcement, the Traffic Management Center or Supervisor E. Obey all traffic laws F. Exercise caution and safety at all times

7 Page 7 of 15 G. Use extreme caution in moving all disabled vehicles H. Do not carry firearms or other weapons either on their persons or in the vehicle I. Do not accept gratuities, gifts, or compensation of any type from motorist or others to whom service is provided J. Use flashing light bars only when merging or exiting from traffic lanes to an incident site or to warn traffic when performing incident management services K. Always utilize seat belts or occupant restraint systems while operating or riding in a Road Ranger Vehicle L. Do not smoke in the Road Ranger Vehicle or while assisting motorist, in accordance with Department Topic No , Smoking Policy. M. Comment cards should not be completed for the motorist 3. STATE LAW ENFORCEMENT RADIO SYSTEM The Florida Department of Transportation, Traffic Operations section strongly supports the statewide use of the SLERS for Road Ranger dispatch and use during incidents. In Districts where 800 MHz radios are provided and being used to assist Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) and the Department in the pursuit of the 90 minute clearance goal stated in the Open Roads Policy the following shall apply: 3.1 SECURITY CLEARANCE A. Road Ranger operators and potential operators must have a criminal history record check performed by the SLERS Security Manager that meets the standards for use of the 800 MHz SLERS. B. Districts should only use the security clearance forms provided by the Central office. C. Traffic Management Center (TMC) personnel utilizing radios shall be subject to the background checks as listed in Section 3.1(A). 3.2 SLERS RADIO OPERATION A. Only designated talk groups will be used by Road Ranger, unless otherwise instructed by the FHP or Road Ranger supervisor. B. Only those persons with approved SLERS background can transport SLERS radios. 3.3 PROPERTY MANAGEMENT A. Each District shall have in place an inventory and control procedure for all radios in the District. It is recommended that radio inventories are preformed quarterly. B. Upon the departure of a Road Ranger or TMC staff member who has been cleared for SLERS radio usage, the District shall inform Central Office of the departure within 5 days of the official final departure date. C. Storage Security protocols for spare radios shall be observed at all times. Radios shall be in a locked cabinet within a locked office.

8 Page 8 of TRAINING A. Districts shall coordinate through FHP the radio training procedure for all Road Ranger and TMC operators in the District. B. Personnel shall not be permitted to use the radios until training has been completed. 4. INFORMATION TRACKING REQUIREMENTS To accurately monitor the effectiveness of the Road Ranger Program certain data must be collected. The Road Ranger Operator is required to collect and report specific data daily; the District is required to collect the daily operator data and report it quarterly; and the Department is required to collect data quarterly and issue a report annually. The following is the required data to be collected at each level thereof. 4.1 ROAD RANGER OPERATOR DAILY DATA COLLECTION The following data shall be collected at the beginning of the Road Ranger Operator s shift: A. Date B. Shift start time C. Operator name D. Truck number E. Route F. Beginning vehicle mileage The following data shall be collected at each stop: A. Dispatch time B. Arrival time C. Tag number D. Issuing State E. Vehicle type 1. Passenger 2. Pickup or van 3. RV or bus 4. Single-unit truck 5. Tractor trailer 6. Motorcycle 7. Not /Applicable (N/A) F. Direction of travel (NB, SB, EB, WB) G. Mile marker/nearest intersection H. How discovered

9 Page 9 of Drive up 2. Observed 3. Road Ranger dispatch 4. FHP dispatch/officer 5. Other I. Lanes/Shoulder blocked J. Cause for stop 1. Accident (crash) a. Law Enforcement Incident Number 2. Vehicle fire 3. Disabled 4. Abandoned 5. Debris 6. Other K. Services provided 1. Extinguished fire 2. Absorbent applied 3. Removed debris 4. Relocated (to safer location) 5. Tire Change 6. Fuel 7. Fluids 8. Mechanical 9. Jump start 10. Called wrecker 11. Secured load 12. Phone call 13. Directions 14. Transported 15. Blocked lane/traffic control 16. Tagged abandoned vehicle 17. Other describe 18. No service occupied 19. No service abandoned L. Departure time The following data shall be collected at the end of each shift: A. Shift end time B. Ending vehicle mileage Appendix C of this procedure, Form No , Florida DOT Road Ranger Operator Daily Report, provides a sample of a daily log for use by the Road Ranger Operators.

10 Page 10 of DISTRICT ROAD RANGER PROGRAM MANAGER DATA COLLECTION The operator data shall be collected monthly and placed in Microsoft Excel or other compatible format. Where available, SunGuide reporting systems should be utilized. This data will then be compiled into a quarterly report and provided to the Statewide Road Ranger Program Manager by the 15 th day of the month after the close of the quarter. The reporting quarters shall be as follows: First Quarter July 1 to September 30 Second Quarter October 1 to December 31 Third Quarter January 1 to March 31 Fourth Quarter April 1 to June STATEWIDE ROAD RANGER PROGRAM MANAGER DATA COLLECTION The quarterly District reports will be compiled into a yearly report. This report will provide an overall statewide perspective as well as summarize individual District information. The yearly report will be completed by the Department s Traffic Engineering and Operations Office Traffic Incident Management Program section by the end of the first quarter of the following fiscal year. 5. TRAINING Road Ranger operators should have successfully completed the following courses or training classes: A. Basic CPR B. Basic First Aid C. Intermediate Maintenance Of Traffic (MOT) or the Department s MOT for Incident Responders D. Where applicable, training for use of the SLERS radios 6. FORMS The following form can be accessed from the Department s Forms Library: Form No , Florida DOT Road Ranger Program Operator Daily Report (see Appendix C)

11 Page 11 of 15 Appendix A ROAD RANGER DISQUALIFYING CRITERIA 1. The applicant has been convicted of a felony offense. 2. The applicant is currently on probation for any offense or has charges pending (felony or misdemeanor, excluding misdemeanor traffic offenses). 3. The applicant has been convicted of a misdemeanor offense involving any type of theft, violence or drug offenses within the past three years. 4. The applicant s driver s license is currently suspended or revoked for any reason. 5. The applicant has been convicted of a crime involving domestic violence or currently has a restraining order involving domestic violence or threats. 6. The applicant has been arrested for any charge involving resisting arrest, battery, or assault on a law enforcement officer. 7. The applicant has a pending warrant for any criminal offense. 8. The applicant is illegally residing in or is not approved to work in the United States. 9. At the discretion of the District Program Manager based on any other adverse information regarding the applicant. 10. The applicant is listed as a Sexual Offender/Predator. 11. The applicant has more than two (2) convictions for driving under the influence. These criteria were adopted from the Joint Task Force for Law Enforcement Communications State Law Enforcement Radio System (SLERS) security procedures.

12 Page 12 of 15 Appendix B State of Florida "OPEN ROADS POLICY Quick Clearance for Safety and Mobility This agreement by and between the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) and the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) establishes a policy for FHP and FDOT personnel to expedite the removal of vehicles, cargo, and debris from roadways on the State Highway System to restore, in an URGENT MANNER the safe and orderly flow of traffic following a motor vehicle crash or incident on Florida's roadways. Whereas: Public safety is the highest priority and must be maintained especially when injuries or hazardous materials are involved. The quality of life in the State of Florida is heavily dependent upon the free movement of people, vehicles, and commerce. The FHP and FDOT share the responsibility for achieving and maintaining the degree of order necessary to make this free movement possible. Agencies have the responsibility to do whatever is reasonable to reduce the risk to responders, secondary crashes, and delays associated with incidents, crashes, roadway maintenance, construction, and enforcement activities. The following operating standards are based on the philosophy that the State Highway System will not be closed or restricted any longer than is absolutely necessary. Be it resolved: Roadways will be cleared of damaged vehicles, spilled cargo, and debris as soon as it is safe to do so. It is understood that damage to vehicles or cargo may occur as a result of clearing the roadway on an urgent basis. While reasonable attempts to avoid such damage shall be taken, the highest priority is restoring traffic to normal conditions. Incident caused congestion has an enormous cost to society. FLORIDA HIGHWAY PATROL RESPONSIBILITIES Members of FHP who respond to the scene of traffic incidents will make clearing the travel portion of the roadway a high priority. When an investigation is required, it will be conducted in as expedient a manner as possible considering the severity of the collision. Non-critical portions of the investigation may be delayed until lighter traffic conditions allow completion of those tasks. The FHP will close only those lanes absolutely necessary to safely conduct the investigation. The FHP will coordinate with FDOT representatives to set up appropriate traffic control, establish alternate routes, expedite the safe movement of traffic at the scene, and restore the roadway to normal conditions as soon as possible. Whenever practical, damaged vehicles on access controlled roadways will be removed to off ramps, accident investigation sites, or other safe areas for completion of investigations

13 Page 13 of 15 to reduce the delays associated with motorists slowing to "gawk." Tow trucks will be requested as soon as it is evident that they will be needed to clear the roadway. FHP will assure that all authorized tow operators have met established competency levels and that the equipment is of appropriate size, capacity, and design to meet all standards of the State of Florida. The FHP will not unnecessarily cause any delay in reopening all or part of a roadway to allow a company to dispatch its own equipment to off-load cargo or recover a vehicle or load that is impacting traffic during peak traffic hours or creating a hazard to the public. The FHP and FDOT will cooperate in planning and implementing clearance operations in the most safe and expeditious manner. FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION S RESPONSIBILITIES When requested by FHP or other emergency agency, FDOT will respond and deploy resources to major traffic incidents 24 hours a day, 7 days per week. Each FDOT District will develop and implement response procedures to meet the goal of providing initial traffic control within 30 minutes of notification during the assigned working hours of each maintenance yard, and 60 minutes after hours. The FDOT, in coordination with FHP, will upgrade traffic controls, determine detour routes, and discuss clearance strategies. When requested, FDOT will provide temporary traffic controls to ensure a safe work zone for all responders and the motoring public. The FDOT, in cooperation with the FHP, will determine and deploy the necessary heavy equipment and manpower to reopen the roadway if there is a delay in clearing the travel lanes, or if the task is beyond the capabilities of the wrecker service on scene. If cargo or spilled loads [non-hazardous] are involved, FDOT will make every effort to assist in the relocation of the materials in the shortest possible time, using whatever equipment necessary. All such materials or any vehicles relocated by FDOT will be moved the minimum possible distance to eliminate traffic hazards. FDOT personnel will document all hours and equipment used for traffic control, roadway clearance, and debris clean up. FDOT will place traffic control devices at the scene should any damaged vehicles or cargo remain on the shoulder adjacent to the travel lanes for removal at a later time. The FDOT and FHP will continually work together to ensure that the needs of motorists on state roadways are being met in the most professional, safe, and efficient manner. Therefore, it is agreed as follows: The FHP and the FDOT will evaluate and continually update and modify their operating policies, procedures, rules, and standards to assure they are consistent with this "OPEN ROADS POLICY" agreement.

14 Page 14 of 15 FHP, together with FDOT, will research, evaluate, and conduct training in the most advanced technologies, equipment, and approved methods for the documentation and investigation of crash or incident scenes. FHP, using these techniques, will prioritize the investigative tasks and reopen travel lanes upon completion of tasks that must be conducted, without the impediment of traffic flowing. Roadways will be cleared as soon as possible. It is the goal of all agencies that all incidents be cleared from the roadway within 90 minutes of the arrival of the first responding officer. This goal being made with the understanding that more complex scenarios may require additional time for complete clearance. It is further agreed that: FHP and FDOT will actively solicit and enlist other state, county, and local agencies, political subdivisions, industry groups, and professional associations to endorse and become party to this "OPEN ROADS PHILOSOPHY" for the State of Florida. In witness whereof, each party hereto has caused this document to be executed in its name and on its behalf by its duly authorized Chief Executive. Page-3

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